Co-design as an inclusive research methodology for marginalised and underrepresented people

"This course invites doctoral students to explore co-design - a method that transforms research into a collaborative process where participants are not just research subjects but partners, drawing on lived experience, in creating real-world solutions. Co-design is a method that is typically applied to deal with difficult, multidimensional problems that needs to consider the needs and desires of a range of people. It is often considered superior to traditional qualitative methods, such as focus groups and interviews, for designing solutions to real world problems, because it allows participants to contribute to the generate solutions in a more equitable and efficient manner. Co-design is a particularly effective method for engaging marginalised and underrepresented people as it fosters inclusion and ensures that those who are most affected by the research outcomes have a direct role in shaping them.

The aim of the course is to enable students to learn about co-design as a research method and enable them to critically engage with the material to understand how they can use co-design in their own research. The course offers a unique opportunity to participate in hands-on learning through workshops and seminars. Students will also gain skills in using online methods for participatory data collection which offers numerous advantages, particularly in terms of engagement of marginalised and underrepresented participants.

This course is targeted to doctoral students in different faculties, including Education and Psychology, Humanities, and Business School.
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